Thumb ****ing...Help Please

[frugalmama4]

Hello,

I have a 9mo who ****s his thumb, I have never had a child own or dck do this. Is their any health, social, developmental issues that come from doing this?

I know one for the parents did this in to his late teens...doesn't seem like the parents are trying to discourage it.

Any advice?

[daycare]

Hello,

I have a 9mo who ****s his thumb, I have never had a child own or dck do this. Is their any health, social, developmental issues that come from doing this?

I know one for the parents did this in to his late teens...doesn't seem like the parents are trying to discourage it.

Any advice?

there was just a posting about this same subject the other day...see if you can't search it.....there was some good advice in it.....

I wish I could help you with the search thing, but truth be told I stink at it....

[frugalmama4]

Found it, thanks daycare

[daycarediva]

I was the one who posted about it not too long ago (last week I believe). My dcb is 2.5 & still chronic thumb ****ing!

Mom was not at all receptive other than just telling him "No thumb dcb" (which lasts 30 seconds, TOPS). When I told her that it was unusual at his age she was shocked as she claims her pediatrician told her "No child goes to school with a thumb in their mouth".

[Country Kids]

I was the one who posted about it not too long ago (last week I believe). My dcb is 2.5 & still chronic thumb ****ing!

Mom was not at all receptive other than just telling him "No thumb dcb" (which lasts 30 seconds, TOPS). When I told her that it was unusual at his age she was shocked as she claims her pediatrician told her "No child goes to school with a thumb in their mouth".

I'm confused where you heard its unusual for a 2 1/2 year old to **** their thumb?

I have a 4 year old that still does and actually have known several children in elementary school that does. It actually is a habit that can start while in the womb! I have an altrusound picture of dd ****ing in the womb and guess what-thumb ****er to an older age.

[frugalmama4]

I was the one who posted about it not too long ago (last week I believe). My dcb is 2.5 & still chronic thumb ****ing!

Mom was not at all receptive other than just telling him "No thumb dcb" (which lasts 30 seconds, TOPS). When I told her that it was unusual at his age she was shocked as she claims her pediatrician told her "No child goes to school with a thumb in their mouth".

Yea, I found your thread. What shocks me is this is a teacher's kid. I would think they would try to break the habit. I know people say at this age its not a big deal...but in my opinion it is. This is a nasty habit, I can not chase this baby around all day making sure he doesn't touch someone with his wet hands or put his hands all over my furniture. When I think about the fact my own dog sits on the floor people walk on the floor with and without shoes...this kid is putting all those germs in his month.

The killer for me is that dad had this habit til he went to high school () he does the drop off and pick up...so talking to him is a waste of time.

It drives me crazy!!!

Thx for the vent.

[Blackcat31]

Most children stop ****ing their thumbs between 3-6 years old. Most advice will say to simple ignore the behavior when the child is between those ages.

http://children.webmd.com/tc/thumb-****ing-topic-overview

[daycarediva]

I'm confused where you heard its unusual for a 2 1/2 year old to **** their thumb?

I have a 4 year old that still does and actually have known several children in elementary school that does. It actually is a habit that can start while in the womb! I have an altrusound picture of dd ****ing in the womb and guess what-thumb ****er to an older age.

It is a self soothing behavior that if not stopped, WILL continue. I knew a child in my grade school that did it and was picked on mercilessly into high school. My own dd and ds were thumb ****ers and I discouraged it/stopped it when they were old enough to self soothe without the thumb. Dd was 6m and ds was 10m when he finally stopped.

It is SO much easier to stop/discourage at a young age, like other less than desirable behaviors (nose picking, nail biting, etc)

[countrymom]

the problem with thumb ****ing is that kids introduce so many germs into their mouths that they do tend to be sick alot. Thats why I always said that I would choose a soother over a thumb any day.

[Holiday Park]

I hav a 16 month old who is into his second week of our 2 week trial period. The reason I haven't terminated care is because I LOVE love love the schedule . After dcm's job training is over she will be picking him up 1/2 hour before my kids get off the bus . I have started fantasizing about terminating care with the PT dcg (I have other reasons too with her) and just keeping this 16month old and the infant since they would be betyer hours.

BUT he has the annoying habit of ****ing on his two fingers almost every second of the day. When I first interviewed with his mom I was under the impression he did this only in new suroundings or if he was anxious. Well not only that, but he has had a on&off runny nose since yesterday and I have been wondering if he will be sick more often ve ause he touches everything with his wet spit fingers. I also dont want my own 15 month son and the other baby getting sick from his spit fingers.
Mom has NO problem with this , infact they just introduced a lovey for night time and after finding out she wont let him cry it out , I think its so he doesn't have to learn to self sooth (with out anything) . I tried seeing if i could stop him from it last werk and today . And he stixks them back in rght after I take them out and tell him no, thats how strong this habit is. So much that sometimes he cant even play with toys because that one hand is "tied up" with his mouth, making him one handed.

[Willow]

I too fail to see the problem with it, especially at just 9 months old.

I don't see the logic behind arguing it's a dirty habit either. At that age and into the 2's children put EVERYTHING into their mouths, toys, books, everything that's not a toy or book up to and including other children

Expecting children will not mouth/lick/**** on a myriad of things from birth-2/3 is extremely unrealistic. It's a sensory filled activity that for all kids helps them learn more about the world around them. It's why every single toy recommended for kids those ages has to be large enough for them not to put right into their mouths.....because everyone knows full well that's what kids those ages do.

Thumbs/fingers and nuks are just a consistent version of that stimulation that soothes them.


If you force a child to forgo the habit the WILL rebel. Every single child I've ever known to **** their thumbs past kindy had parents who thought for whatever reason that it was damaging and had to be stopped in infancy.

The parents that just let it go and leave the child be are the ones who's children stop it on their own much much sooner.


If you push it, guaranteed you will create a child who does this for *years* longer than they would have otherwise.

[Holiday Park]

Oh and be ause there are no major issues. I am thinking of letting dcm know that the finger ****ing is making me cocerned about him becoming sick more often as that I will have to observe how often he gets sick over the course of the next few months. What do you all think about that ?

[Country Kids]

Just because a child ****s their thumbs does not mean they will be anymore sick then another child. They even maybe sick less because their bodies actually become immuned to alot of germs. Think of how doctors/nurses/health care workers/teachers are less sick then most. They are in constant contact with germs.

All the thumb ****ers I have had are actually some of the healthiest kids, miss less days that I have ever had.

My own thumb ****ers were healthy little ones!

[Willow]

I'm confused where you heard its unusual for a 2 1/2 year old to **** their thumb?

I have a 4 year old that still does and actually have known several children in elementary school that does. It actually is a habit that can start while in the womb! I have an altrusound picture of dd ****ing in the womb and guess what-thumb ****er to an older age.

Every ultrasound I had of my daughter she had her fist up by her face. Within minutes of birth she brought her fist up and popped in her middle and ring finger. I remember thinking "OH! So that's what you were doing!!!!

I only had one person ever say anything about it, an elderly woman came up to me in the grocery store once. She asked if she was a "retarded child" and told me I shouldn't let her **** on her fingers like that or other people would "know."

I thought it was adorable and never bothered her about it. She stopped around age 4 when the calluses on the backs of her fingers from her teeth started bothering her.

That and she didn't like that her polish would come off when we did her nails ::


(The child is dyslexic but otherwise smart as a tack btw. She's also only been on antibiotics once in her entire 10 years )

[NeedaVaca]

If I was going to term a child because of thumb ****ing I would have almost no kiddos...While I agree it can be "yucky" it just doesn't bother me. My own kids never did this but when I see my DCK's doing it I don't see anything abnormal about it, lots of kids do this and eventually outgrow it. Most of my DCK don't walk around all day with thumbs in their mouths but as soon as I get books out for story time they all pop those thumbs in their mouths! We wash hands a lot though